Spurs don’t see Manu taking superhero role

At some point tonight, Manu Ginobili will strap a cumbersome black brace to his sprained right elbow.

Then, he will don his superhero’s cape, swoop down from the AT&T Center rafters, and save the Spurs’ first-round series against Memphis.

That is one vision of the future floating through crystal balls around San Antonio today. It is not quite the version the Spurs themselves are buying.

“It’s not like he gets back and it’s, ‘We got Manu, we’ll be fine,’” forward Richard Jefferson said. “We’ve got to approach it with the intensity we approached the last game.”

Facing a must-win Game 2 after Memphis seized a 101-98 victory in the best-of-7 series opener, the Spurs know they can’t simply count on Ginobili to snap his fingers and deliver it.

Officially, coach Gregg Popovich has not changed Ginobili’s status since the series began. After missing Game 1, Ginobili — the Spurs’ second-leading scorer — is still listed as doubtful for Game 2.

There are signs, however, that Ginobili — who came close to playing in Game 1 — could be on the verge of his playoff debut tonight. He has taken part in all practices since the postseason began, though none involved full contact, and earlier this week went 1-on-1 with rookie James Anderson to test his elbow.

“Manu is our MVP,” center DeJuan Blair said. “I can’t wait to see him in the playoffs. He always steps his game up a thousand notches.”

There is no question that a healthy Ginobili would increase the Spurs’ odds of evening the series.

They certainly could have used him in Game 1, if for no other reason than to make free throws. In a game in which the Spurs missed 11 free throws and lost by three, it would have been nice to have their best foul shooter available.

Then there’s this: Ginobili’s season high of 35 points came in a win over Memphis on Feb. 27.

However, the Spurs also see danger in believing Ginobili’s mere introduction to the series — whenever it comes — is the panacea for all their problems.

Even when Ginobili returns, the Grizzlies will still be big and bruising. Randolph, who had 25 points and 14 rebounds in the opener, will still be a load. Memphis, already ahead in the series, will still be confident it can win it.

If Ginobili does suit up, it’s difficult to say how effective he might be. He will have to wear a device to restrict movement on his non-shooting arm, and there’s no telling how it will affect his ball-handling, passing and penetrating until he gets into a game.

“We know when Manu comes back, it’s not going to change everything,” Tony Parker said. “Obviously, he’s a big part of what we do. We still have to play with the same energy and match their physicality.”

Given what’s at stake for the Spurs tonight, they’d prefer to take their shot with Ginobili in uniform. Only three teams in history have fallen into an 0-2 hole at home and recovered to win the series.

Not that Popovich had to stress the importance of Game 2 to his players.

“They are all grown-ups,” Popovich said. “They don’t need me to tell them what happened or how they have to feel.”

With or without Ginobili on the floor, the Grizzlies sense an opportunity to seize the series by the throat.

“We have to understand that this is not just about winning one game,” Memphis guard Mike Conley said. “We are trying to win the series, and they are going to be hungry next game. They are going to try to come out and knock us out early. That’s what good teams do.”

Tonight, the Spurs could be at full strength for the first time in this series.

Whether that will be enough to draw it even remains to be seen.

Did you know?

17 teams in NBA history have lost the first two games of a best-of-7 series at home. Three bounced back to win the series — the 1968-69 Lakers, 1993-94 Rockets and 2004-05 Mavericks.